Belgium 2 Euro 2018 Esro-2B UNC

May 1968 was an important milestone for European space travel. On May 16, 1968, the first European satellite was successfully brought into orbit around the earth. This was the ESRO-2B. Previous attempts to launch a satellite successfully failed. The ESRO (European Space Research Organisation) was founded in 1964 and later merged into the ESA (European Space Agency). The ESRO-2B satellite had a weight of more than 100 kilos and the purpose of the mission was to get a picture of the magnetic field and the cosmic radiation around the earth. In the year 2018 it will be 50 years since the ESRO-2B Satellite was launched and to commemorate this, Belgium has issued a special 2 Euro coin. On the face of the coin the Esro-2B Satellite is depicted in orbit around the earth. The solar cells are easily recognisable on the outside of the Satellite as is the cross dipole on the bottom of the Satellite. Below the satellite are the letters IRIS (International Radiation Investigation Satellite). At the top of the coin is the name of the satellite "ESRO-2B" under which are the years 1968 and 2018. At the bottom of the coin are the letters "BE", the abbreviation of Belgium. Next to these letters are the mint marks.